Ultraviolet water sterilization device in a modularized configuration

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a vtraviolet water sterilization device having sterilization chamber module into a modularized configuration each having two water-through ports, one port is used as a water inlet and the other as an outlet of the said sterilization chamber. The sterilization chamber may be formed into a single-wall configuration or a casing configuration. Inside the sterilization chamber are distributed n (n≧1) ultraviolet lamps with glass sleeves. Each chamber module may be used individually or in combination of two, three or more into a large chamber to meet the need of sterilization for a large water volume. The connection between two modules or between a module and inlet pipe or outlet pipe is formed by a feasible joint or a flange with a sealing gasket and allows the water inlet to be relative to water outlet at any angle. Each module can be also arranged as separate sections so as to lessen manufacturing difficulties and simplify the assembly process. The sterilization chamber may be made in cylindrical or other shapes.

[0001] This invention relates to a water sterilization device and in particalar to an ultraviolet (UV) water sterilization device in a modularized configuration.

[0002] Presently, there are two types of ultraviolet sterilization devices, one is a open-channel sterilization reactor, and the other is a closed one. The open-channel sterilization reactor is often employed for sterilization of large flow of waste water, and the closed sterilization reactor, especially using low-pressure mercury lamp, is mainly employed for sterilization of small amount of water used in varied areas, but is not applicable for sterilization of water treated in a large volume with high quality. In general, the treatment capacity of a single device is relatively small, and undoubtedly and at least partly it will waste resource if a plurality of devices is combined into use. For this reason, an ultraviolet water sterilization device capable of treating a large volume is needed.

[0003] Patent application No. ZL 96228096.8 disclosed a water-through ultraviolet sterilization device, including a water through chamber comprising of three sleeves of quartz glass disposed concentrically and permitting reciprocal flow of water flow. This device has advantages of low energy loss and high efficiency, but is structurally complicated and inconvenient for handling and maintenance. The sleeves of quartz glass cannot sustain vibration during transportation and operations especially, if the ultraviolet sterilization needs device disassemble in order to remove scale after operation for a period of time. The complicated structure induces over time for assembling, inconvenience for cleaning and maintenance. If it is necessary to increase water volume for the sleeves of quartz glass with a single light resource, the diameter of the sleeves will be increased, so will their thickness, thus the absorption of the sleeves to ultraviolet ray will be increased, decreasing the penetrating distance in water of ultraviolet ray and consequently thus decreasing the ultraviolet radiation dose accepted by water flowing through outer and intermediate sleeve, and finally decreasing UV dose, then the kill effect on bacterium and virus. Therefore, this device is not applicable for sterilization treatment of a large volume of water.

[0004] The object of this invention is to provide a UV water sterilzation device for a large volume of water. By use of the ultraviolet water sterilization system composed of the said sterilization devices in a modularized configuration, the deficienicies of the device in the known art that the treatment volume is small and handling and maintenance are inconvenient can be eliminated, the water sterilization in high efficiency and large volume can be thus achieved.

[0005] The object of this invention is achieved by forming the sterilization chamber into a modularized configuration each having two water-through ports. When this module is employed individually, one port is used as a water inlet and the other as an outlet of the said sterilization chamber. The sterilization chamber may be formed into a single-wall configuration or a sleeve-casing configuration. Inside the sterilization reacting chamber are distributed n (n≧1) ultraviolet lamps with glass sleeves that are used to protect the ultraviolet lamps. One end of the ultraviolet lamp and the glass sleeve is located on a main positioning plate for the ultraviolet lamp The scaling fitting and nut of the glass sleeve seal the juncture between the glass sleeve and the main positioning plate. The main positioning plate of the ultraviolet lamp is secured on the end surface of the sterilization chamber by bolts and nuts. Each chamber module may be used individually or in combination of two, three or more into a large chamber to meet the length of UV lamps and the need of sterilization for a large water volume. The connection between two modules or between a module and inlet pipe or outlet pipe is formed by a feasible joint or a flange with a sealing gasket and allows the angle between water inlet and water outlet at any degree. Each module can be also arranged as separate sections so as to lessen manufacturing difficulties and simplify the assembly process. The sterilization chamber may be made in cylindrical or other shapes.

[0006] This invention may be brought about into two plans, plan 1 is a sterilization chamber in sleeve-casing configuration, and plan 2 is a sterilization chamber in a single-wall configuration.

[0007] The sterilization chamber in sleeve-casing configuration for plan 1 is characterized in that the water inlet or water outlet or both are formed into a casing configuration, namely, a double-wall configuration. The inner chamber wall of casing configuration is provided on the end portion with an auxiliary water passage that is communicated with an outer casing. The water through port of the outer casing is directly connected to inlet pipe or outlet pipe, and the auxiliary water-through passage positioned at the end portion of inner chamber wall are located inside the outer casing. The auxiliary water-through passage are designed in two ways: one way is that the end surface of the inner chamber wall is sealed, while the side surface is provided with several auxiliary water-tough orifices, which cross-areas are totally equal to or similar as the area of the water passage port of the outer casing communicated therewith; the other way is that the end surface of inner chamber wall is not sealed and is directly used as an auxiliary water-through passage, which cross-area is equal to or similar as that of the inner chamber or the water-through port of the outer casing communicated therewith as well. The sterilization chamber in casing configuration can be also arranged in separate sections, one is a water-through part in a casing configuration, the other is a pipe spool, both are connected to form an integrated module A number of water-through parts and pipe spools can be combined into use when a sterilization chamber is formed. The sterilization chamber in casing configuration is arranged as a module that can be used individually or in combination of two, three or more. The connection between modules can be formed by a feasible joint or a flange with a sealing gasket and allows the water inlet to the be relative to water outlet at any angle.

[0008] The sterilization reacting chamber in single-wall configuration for plan. 2 is characterized in that the sterilization chamber is formed into a chamber with a single wall, which has two water-through ports; one is used as a water inlet, the other as a water outlet. The ultraviolet lamps are distributed inside the sterilization chamber. The sterilization chamber in a single-wall configuration can be also arranged in separate sections, namely, one water-through part and one pipe spool matched thereto. A number of water-through parts and pipe spools can be combined into use when a sterilization chamber is formed. The sterilization chamber is arranged as a module The module can be sized in different water-through lengths and diameters, and can be used individually or in combination of two, three or more. The connection between modules allows the water inlet to be relative to water outlet at any angle.

[0009] Here two embodiments are respectively provided for plan 1 and plan 2. The first embodiment of plan 1 is a sterilization chamber in which water inlet or water outlet is formed into a casing configuration, and the second embodiment is a sterilization chamber which both the water inlet and water outlet are formed into casing configurations. The first embodiment of plan 2 is a sterilization chamber in an integral module, and the second is one in a module of separate.

[0010] The specific embodiments according to this invention will be further described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as following:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a main section view of first embodiment for plan 1 according to this invention showing a sterilization chamber;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a left view of first embodiment for plan 1 according to this invention showing a sterilization chamber;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a schematic view of first embodiment for plan 1 according to this invention showing the connection of a sterilization chamber;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a main section view of second embodiment for plan 1 according to this invention showing a sterilization chamber;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of first embodiment for plan 1 according to this invention showing a sterilization chamber in the form of separate sections;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of second embodiment for plan 1 according to this invention showing the sterilization chamber in the form of separate sections;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a section view of first embodiment for plan 2 according to this invention showing an integral module;

[0018]FIG. 8 is a schematic view of second embodiment for plan 2 according to this invention showing the connection between modules.

[0019] In drawings, reference number 1 denotes a water inlet; 2 denotes a flange seat B at the end of the sterilization chamber; 3 denotes a sterilization chamber; 4 denotes a outer casing of water outlet; 5 denotes a water outlet; 6 denotes flange seat A at the other end of the sterilization chamber; 7 denotes a main positioning plate; 8 denotes all auxiliary water-through orifice; 9 denotes an ultraviolet lamp with a glass sleeve; 10 denotes a positioning plate of glass sleeve; 11 denotes a water-through hole in the positioning plate of glass sleeve; 12 denotes a sealing fitting of the glass sleeve; 13 denotes an outer casing of water inlet; 14 denotes a water inlet; 15 denotes an auxiliary water-through orifice; 16 denotes a sealing gasket, 17 denotes bolt and nut; 18 denotes a protective cover of power supply; and 19 denotes bolt and nut for protective cover of power supply.

[0020] The first embodiment of plan 1 according to his invention is described as follows. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the sterilization chamber is made in a cylindrical shape and its water outlet is formed into a sleeve-casing configuration. The sterilization device consists of a water inlet 1, a sterilization chamber 3 and a water outlet 5 The n(n≧1) UV lamps with glass sleeves 9 used to protect the UV lamps are distributed inside the sterilization chamber. The sealing fitting 12 of glass sleeve seals the juncture between a glass sleeve 9 of the UV lamp and the main positioning plate 7. A casing configuration is formed into the water outlet in order to meet the need of large water volume. For the sterilization chamber in FIG. 1a, the end surface of inner chamber wall is sealed and on the cylindrical wall several auxiliary water-through orifices 8 located are provided inside the outer casing 4 of the water outlet, the total water-through area are equal to or similar as that of the water inlet 1 or the water outlet 5. In FIG. 1b, the end surface of inner chamber wall of a sleeve casing configuration is not sealed and directly used as auxiliary water passage, its water-through areas are equal to or similar is the cross-area of the inner chamber and the same as the water-through area of the outer casing of the water outlet inside which the auxiliary water-through passage is located. If a long UV lamp is mounted, it is necessary to use a positioning plate 10 of the glass sleeve to support the UV lamp with glass sleeve 9. One end surface of the outer casing of the water outlet is sealed to the wall of the sterilization chamber; the other end is secured by a connecting flange. In this embodiment, the water outlet can be used as a water inlet instead, namely, the water inlet is formed as a casing configuration. This module can be used individually or in combination of two or three or more. The schematic the view of connection of modules is shown as FIG. 3. The module can be also designed in separate sections as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5a shows a main water-through part in a casing configuration with a pipe spool matched thereto, in which the water-through orifices are arranged in the inner wall of the said casing configuration, FIG. 5b shows a main water-through part in a casing configuration with a pipe spool matched thereto, in which the end surface of the inner chamber wall is not sealed. Both above configurations are adapted to pipe spools by a connecting flange. A different number of the main water-through parts and the pipe spools can be combined into use. The main water-through parts in casing configuration can be constructed as a partial casing configuration as shown in FIG. 5a 1, or a fill casing configuration as shown in FIG. 5a 2. In addition, the connecting flange seat 2 can be provided with several connecting holes being evenly spaced around its circumference so that when a plurality of modules is combined into use or arranged in separate sections, the water inlet is relative to water outlet at any angle if the modules are connected.

[0021] Second embodiment of plan 1:

[0022] In this embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the sterilization chamber is made in cylindrical shape and both its water outlet and water inlet are formed into a casing configuration. The sterilization device consists of a outer casing 13 of water inlet 1, a sterilization chamber 3 and a outer casing 4 of water outlet 5. As shown in the figure, both water inlet and water outlet are formed into a casing configuration in order to sleet the need of large water volume. The n(n≧1) UV lamps with glass sleeves 9 used to protect the UV lamps are distributed inside the sterilization chamber. The sealing fitting 12 of glass sleeve seals the juncture between the glass sleeve 9 of the UV lamp and the main positioning plate 7. As shown in FIG. 4a, the end portions of the said inner wall of sterilization chamber in a casing configuration are provided with several auxiliary water-through orifices 8 and 15, and the water-through areas of orifices 8 or 15 totally equal to or similar as the area of water inlet 1 or water outlet 5. In this figure, one end surface of the outer casing 4 of water outlet is scaled to the wall of sterilization chamber 3, and the other end surface is secured to a connecting flange. All auxiliary water-through orifices 8 are located inside outer casing 4 of water outlet, and all auxiliary water-through orifice 15 are located inside outer casing 13 of the water inlet. The sealing connection is formed by welding or in another way. As shown in FIG. 4b, the end surface of inner wall is not sealed and is directly used as an auxiliary water passage. The water-through area of the end surface is equal to or similar as the inner cross-area of the cylindrical chamber. One end surface of the outer casing is sealed to the wall of the sterilization chamber and the other end surface is secured by a connecting flange.

[0023] The sterilization chamber in a casing configuration may be also arranged in separate sections, namely, a water-through part in a casing configuration and a pipe spool matched thereto, as shown in FIG. 5. A different number of water-through parts and pipe spools can be combined into use when a sterilization chamber is constructed. FIG. 6 is a connection view showing the combined sterilization chamber of separate sections.

[0024] The ultraviolet sterilization device in first embodiment of plan. 2 according to this invention is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, The sterilization chamber is formed into a single-wall configuration in a cylindrical shape, which may be made in a cylindrical shape or not. Within the sterilization chamber are distributed n (n≧1) UV lamps with glass sleeves 9 mounted on a main positioning plate 7 of the UV lamp at one end. A positioning plate 10 of the glass sleeve will be arranged inside the sterilization chamber to support the glass sleeves if a long lamp is used. The main positioning plate 7 of the UV lamp is secured on the flange seat at the end of the sterilization chamber by tightening bolts and nuts 17 of the plate. A protective cover 18 of power supply is secured on the outer side of main positioning plate 7 of the UV lamp by the tightening bolts 19 for the protective cover. The water inlet, water outlet and the end portion of the sterilization clamber can be connected by a feasible joint or a flange with a sealing gasket. The water-through length and diameter of the module may be made in different sizes to create a series of modules. The module can be used Individually or in combination of two, three or more. Several connecting holes evenly spaced around the circumstances of the connecting flanges are provided so that the water inlet can be relative to the water outlet at any angle when the flanges are connected. The connection between modules, between a water through and inlet pipe or outlet pipe can be formed by feasible joint or connecting flange 2.

[0025] Second embodiment of plan 2:

[0026] The ultraviolet water sterilization device in second embodiment of plan 2 is shown in FIG. 8, in which the sterilization chamber is formed into a single-wall configuration in separate sections FIG. 8a is a schematic view showing a connection between a main water-through part section of a module and a pipe spool matched thereto; FIG. 8b is a schematic view showing a connection between a main water-passing part of a module containing a water inlet 1 and water outlet 5, and a pipe spool matched thereto. The main water-through part is combined with the pipe spool to form a integrated module. The advantage in the form of separate sections lies in that the main water-through part can be made of other materials, such as a ceramic material, other than a stainless stell so as to reduce cost, lessen manufacturing difficulties and simplify assembly process. A different number of main water-through parts and pipe spools matched thereto can be selected to construct a sterilization chamber. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a connection of a sterilization chamber in a single-wall configuration in separate sections.

[0027] The ultraviolet sterilization device in a modularized configuration according to this invention can be used for sterilization of seawater, drinking water and treated foul water as well as other appropriate fluids, and also be used for sterilization of gas. The water treatment volume of the ultraviolet sterilization device will be greatly increased because of the modularization arrangement, and its handling and maintenance will be more convenient.

[0028] The embodiments According to this invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and can be made in various modifications by those skilled in the art without departing the scope of claims appended. 

1. An ultraviolet water sterilization device in a modularized configuration comprising a sterilization chamber which contains a water inlet and a water outlet and UV lamps mounted inside the said sterilization chamber, characterized in that the sterilization chamber is formed into a modularized configuration, the module can be used individually or in combination of two, three or more to form a combined sterilization chamber.
 2. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sterilization chamber can be formed into a single-wall configuration or a casing configuration.
 3. All ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that n≧1 UV lamps with glass sleeves (9) are distributed inside a sterilization chamber.
 4. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the diameter and length of water passage of the module can be made in different size to create a series of modules, the module can be used individually or in combination of two, three and more.
 5. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water inlet (1) or water outlet (5) of its sterilization chamber is formed into a casing configuration, the inner wall of the sterilization reacting chamber (3) in a casing configuration is provided on end with auxiliary water-through orifices (8) which are located inside an outer casing, one end of said outer casing is sealed to the wall of the sterilization chamber, and the other end is secured by a connecting flange (2).
 6. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 5, characterized in that both the water inlet (1) and the water outlet (5) of the sterilization chamber are formed into a casing configuration, auxiliary water-through orifices (8) and (15) located inside an outer casing (4) and (13) are provided respectively on one end portion of the inner wall of sterilization chamber (3) in a casing configuration, one end of the said outer casing (13) is sealed to the wall of the sterilization reacting chamber (3) and the other end is sealedly secured by a connecting flange.
 7. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, 5 or 6, characterized in that the total cross-areas of water-through orifices 8 or 15 on the end portion of the chamber wall are equal to or similar as the area of the water inlet 1 or the water outlet
 5. 8. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sterilization chamber can be formed into separate sections, one is a water through part aid another is a pipe spool, which are combined together into a integrated module.
 9. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sealing fitting 12 of glass sleeves seals the juncture between the glass sleeves of the UV lamps and main positioning plate (7).
 10. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the module for the sterilization chamber can be made in a cylindrical shape or other than cylindrical shape.
 11. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the water inlet can be relative to water outlet at any angle when every two modules are connected.
 12. An ultraviolet water sterilization device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water inlet 1 or the water outlet 5 in a casing configuration for sterilization chamber can be also formed as that one end surface of the outer casing is sealed to the wall of sterilization reacting chamber (3) and the other end surface is secured to a connecting flange, there are no water-through orifices on both end portion of the said sterilization chamber (3), but between one end surface of the said sterilization chamber (3) and the flange cover is created a water passage where the water-through area is equal to or similar as that of the water inlet (1) or the water outlet (5). 